Damaged (Rúben Dias)

Chapter 8

Dani's POV

I'm an absolute mess on the way home. I actually wish I could just walk and try to empty my mind a bit, but Sam will be home soon so I need to take the bus. I don't know what game it is Rúben and I are playing but it feels more dangerous each day.

"Hello?"

I turn and see Sam. "Hey! Didn't see you there".

"I noticed", she laughs. "You just walked past me. Are you alright?"

"Just got a lot in my head".

"Wanna talk about it?"

"No, it's...nothing. Let's go home and have fun. Have you thought about what movies we can watch?"

"Oh yeah, all the girliest movies you can imagine".

I roll my eyes. "Libby will be happy. And just so you know, I like those movies too".

"Really? I thought you would prefer the Saw franchise over Legally Blonde".

"There is a good time for both".

We are still laughing when we get inside the house and I see Libby turning her head to look at us. I can't remember the last time I saw her looking so happy.

"Girls! I bought some snacks and dinner is on its way".

"On its way? Did you order food?"

Libby takes a deep breath as if she knows I won't like what she's going to say next. "Rúben called".

I can hear a little chuckle coming from Sam. "Why did he call?"

"He knew about our girl's night and offered to send us food so I told him what we liked and now it's on its way".

"How did he know?", asks Sam and I look to find her smirking at me.

"I was with him for the uni assignment and told him".

"And he thought about sending us food. Isn't that thoughtful of him?"

"It is", says Libby. "So don't be mad, Dani. He's helping so much".

"I know. Let's get things ready for when the food arrives".

Sam and I go to my room so we can leave our things there and get changed into comfy clothes. And I don't have time to take my hoodie off before Sam says what I expected her to say.

"Very boyfriend-ish of Rúben to send us food, huh?"

"Boyfriend? Really?"

"I can imagine him after you left thinking his beautiful Danielle was going home, far from him. So he needed you to remember how much he thinks about you...and he sent you food. It's the way to everyone's heart after all".

I shake my head. "It's not like that".

"How is it then?"

"I don't know. But nothing will happen so...yeah".

"How do you know?"

Sam has proven to me I can trust her. But this isn't really my story to tell...it's Libby's. And Rúben's, I guess. I'm not ready to tell her nothing can happen between Rúben and me because we met after he slept with my sister. However, not telling her doesn't mean this doesn't serve as a reminder to me of how stupid it is to keep getting closer to Rúben. I'll only hurt myself more.

"I just know. Let's go eat. I've heard the doorbell".

"Sure", Sam isn't so sure but follows me anyway.

We see Libby is placing all the takeaway food on the coffee table and it's...a lot.

"Well, we won't be going to bed hungry", laughs Sam.